It wasn't that Steve was cross or disagreeable.

For that matter, his disposition seemed a good deal improved.

But he was decidedly stand-offish and extraordinarily quiet.

Tom wanted to ask outright what the trouble was, but, for some reason, he held back.

As the days passed, Steve's manner became more natural and he ceased looking at Tom as though, to quote the latter's unspoken simile, he was a new sort of an animal in a zoo! But some constraint still remained, and, after awhile, Tom accepted the situation and grew accustomed to it.